Hindi
Eros Intl to distribute Agneepath internationally
MUMBAI: Eros International Media Ltd will be releasing Dharma Productions‘ upcoming film Agneepath, in the international markets on 26 January, 2012.
Agneepath directed by Karan Malhotra is homage to the cult 1990 classic directed by the late Mukul S Anand. The action drama stars Hrithik Roshan playing the role of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan originally played by Bachchan. The film also stars Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Dutt as Kancha Cheena and Rishi Kapoor who also essays an antagonist in the film.
Eros International president – marketing and distribution Pranab Kapadia said, “Agneepath marks the first of the big ticket releases next year and Eros is excited about associating with Dharma Productions to present this thrilling action film on a global platform. Audiences are looking forward to Hrithik‘s portrayal of the legendary Vijay Dinanath Chouhan, made famous by Amitabh Bachchan while Sanjay Dutt‘s villainous look has stirred up much curiosity. The promos have evoked very good reactions and we are anticipating a very encouraging response to the film.”
Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta added, “We are delighted that Dharma Productions is collaborating with Eros. We have always been appreciative of Eros‘ endeavour in the world of commercial cinema and we hope this coming together for the first time helps both of us to take a giant leap in the coming years!”
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
